Local Attractions

• Washington, DC is a town that is both steeped in history and current as the evening news. Washington, DC presents ample tourist opportunities, including museums known throughout the world, a world class zoo, extensive restaurants, and a booming theatre district. Here you can step back into the history of the United States and also explore the frontiers of science in the same afternoon. There is plenty to see within easy walking distance of the conference hotel, and even more a short subway ride away, so automobiles are optional. For dining, local attractions and events near the conference venue, see the Hotel Website.
  
  However, those who prefer to drive can easily also see such sites as the NASM Udvar-Hazy Center (the new home of the Shuttle Discovery and an SR-71 Blackbird), Virginia Beach, Jamestown, Annapolis, and Gettysburg (site of the decisive battle of the American Civil War). Participants can get a lot out of the city by spending extra days exploring the area or simply a summer evening wandering along the National Mall, making this ACC a great one for having the family tag along. The conference hotel will hold the conference rate on available rooms from June 11 to June 24 in 2013 on a space-available basis.

• Monuments and Memorials: The National Mall is an open park in downtown Washington, DC that spans the area between the Lincoln Memorial and the United States Capitol building, and many prominent monuments (and museums) are on or near the Mall. For example, the Washington Monument (photo below from Destination DC) is situated near the center of the Mall. It was built in honor of George Washington, who was first President of the United States of America, and is topped by an apex that was once the largest piece of cast aluminum in the world.
  
  Several memorials, including the National World War II Memorial, the Korean War Veterans Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, are located on the Mall. The Tidal Basin, around which are the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, and the District of Columbia War Memorial, is just south of the Mall. A list of national historical sites is available at the National Park Service Website.

• Smithsonian Museums: The Smithsonian Institution is an educational foundation chartered by Congress in 1846 that maintains most of the nation's official museums and galleries in Washington, DC, and many of these are also along the National Mall. Since the Smithsonian is funded in part by the US Government, its museums are open to the public free of charge. One of the Smithsonian museums located on the Mall is the National Air and Space Museum (NASM), which has the largest collection of historic air and spacecraft in the world and houses many artifacts intimately tied to control. The Conference Banquet Dinner (see menu) will be at the NASM on June 18, 2013.
  
  There are more than a dozen other Smithsonian museums on and near the National Mall. These include the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of African Art, the National Museum of American History (which houses one of the largest collections of flyball governors on the planet, as well as Stanley, the autonomous vehicle that won the original DARPA Grand Challenge, and the restored Star Spangled Banner that inspired America's National Anthem), the National Museum of the American Indian, the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, the Arts and Industries Building, and the Smithsonian Institution Building, which is locally referred to as "The Castle" and serves as the institution's headquarters. Closer to the ACC13 conference hotel are the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the National Portrait Gallery, both of which are located in the Donald W. Reynolds Center, near Chinatown. The National Zoo, which is a metro subway ride away in Woodley Park, is also part of the Smithsonian. See the Smithsonian Website for additional details.

• Other Museums: There are many other museums throughout Washington, DC. The National Gallery of Art is also located on the National Mall and while its collections are owned by the US government, it is not part of the Smithsonian Institution. Selected other museums include the International Spy Museum, which is just a few blocks from the ACC13 hotel, and the US Holocaust Memorial Museum located near the Washington Monument.

• Advanced Planning: Some of the exhibits, notably the White House where the US President resides just north of the Mall and the US Capitol, require advanced tickets. Some other sites, such as the Washington Monument and the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, require tickets either in advance or on a first come first served basis.

• The Arts: Washington, DC is a thriving center for the arts. For example, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on the Potomac River (shown in photo below by Carol Pratt) is home to the National Symphony Orchestra, the Washington National Opera, and the Washington Ballet. It presents great performers and performances from America and around the world.
  
  Additionally, the National Theatre, Warner Theater, and the historic Ford's Theatre are all located in downtown Washington, DC, not too far from the ACC13 conference hotel. Moreover the Capitol Steps, a hilarious satire group of politics and pop culture, perform every Friday and Saturday evening at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, a few blocks from the conference hotel.

• Sports Fans: A number of professional sports teams make their home in Washington, DC. While the Redskins (NFL), Capitals (NHL), and Wizards (NBA) will be out of season in June, the Mystics (Women's NBA), the Nationals (Washington's MLB team), and DC United (men's soccer) will be in action at the time of the ACC.

• See the Washington, DC Website for events and additional information about visiting Washington, DC.

• General information about Washington, DC is available from the Wikipedia website